The Chargers are taking things slow on the practice field with their third-year wide receiver. Sidelined for all of 2012 with a broken left ankle, he's mostly been limited to mental reps during team drills at organized team activities, sporadically mixing in with the third- or second-team offense.

The second week of OTAs began Monday.

"First of all, all glory to God for allowing me to come back from an injury like that," Brown said. "Being back and running around out here, I feel like a 10-year-old kid again, running around, catching balls. I'm just happy to be back."

The sense around Chargers Park last December was Brown could have returned to game action if needed. Seeing no sense in risking his overexposure, the Chargers chose to protect Brown, and here in May, given the big picture, the new regime is proceeding with that same level of caution.

"Some of those guys that had offseason injuries or whatever it is," coach Mike McCoy said recently, "we're just going to work back in and gradually work them up to where they need to be and get them back to 100 percent."

While Brown said Monday his ankle is "100 percent," he acknowledged respect for the process.

He expects to be full-go come training camp.

"I haven't played football in a year, so I have to get my mechanics back, make sure I can break and all that stuff," Brown said. "That's pretty much what the process is. ... Last week was kind of the break-in week. It was a little sore coming out, but this week it feels a lot stronger. Hopefully it progresses week to week."

The Chargers lost Brown last August in the second preseason game. He was tackled in the end zone following an 18-yard touchdown catch against the Cowboys and had surgery the next day.

The injury interrupted a strong preseason in which Brown paced the team with six catches, 112 yards and two touchdowns. In the locker room after the game, tight end Antonio Gates characterized Brown, now 24, as the top route-runner on the team.

As a rookie, Brown had 19 catches for 329 yards and two touchdowns in 2011. Of those totals, 13 receptions, 234 yards and a score came in four starts.

His return to the club is welcome.

"It's like getting another second-round pick because you missed him all of last year," quarterback Philip Rivers said. "He's looking good and coming on. ... You talk about the injury that happened in the preseason last year. He's just been battling and battling to get himself back to where he can participate with us. It's good to have him back out there."